Question: First-time axie owner: Are they male/female?

[appshan]

Hi, everyone!

I have 2 axolotls: one is a wild-type (8 inches) and the other is a melanoid (7 inches). I bought them 5 months ago, so I am unsure if they are now adults/sexually mature. Could you please tell me if they are male/female?

Also, they are currently in separate bare-bottom tanks, but I would like to house them together soon. The family I got them from keeps 3 adults in a 20-gallon long tank. Should I put mine in a 20-gallon as well? And how much sand would I need at the bottom?

Thank you so much!

 

[JM29]

Difficult to tell with the photos.
Have a look to this page :

Axolotls - Biology

www.axolotl.org

Unfortunately, a well diagnosed male is definitively male, but you'll be sure of a female only once she has laid eggs.

 

[appshan]

Difficult to tell with the photos.
Have a look to this page :

Axolotls - Biology

www.axolotl.org

Unfortunately, a well diagnosed male is definitively male, but you'll be sure of a female only once she has laid eggs.

Thanks for the link! So I’ll know if I have a female if I see eggs after putting them together, correct?

Do you have any recommendations about tank size and decor for them?

 

[wolfen]

a twenty gallon tank is the minimum size tank for one axolotl (used to be ten gallon years ago with thirty being widely accepted now) with ten gallon being added for each additional axolotl.
sand is fine to be used in an axolotl tank provided it has been thoroughly cleaned before hand and that it is turned over regularly to release any debris and gasses.

 

[JM29]

As an example, my axolotl tank 3 years ago

And nowadays.
Debris accumulate sometimes when some plants decay in autumn. Need some superficial cleaning but nothing dangerous for well-fed axolotls kept at adequate temperatures.

 

[appshan]

View attachment 99201
As an example, my axolotl tank 3 years ago

View attachment 99202
And nowadays.
Debris accumulate sometimes when some plants decay in autumn. Need some superficial cleaning but nothing dangerous for well-fed axolotls kept at adequate temperature

Your tank is so nice! I am assuming it is a 40 gallon? What kind of plants do you have in there? Do you use a filter?

 

[JM29]

I have no filter.
pH is between 7,0 and 7,5 : ammonium is not dangerous at this values and most aquatic plants prefer uptaking this nitrogen form.
In France, noone among my friend use a filter for axolotls.

I chosed to mix diverse plants to manage nitrogen and O2/CO2 :
- Bacopa amplexicaulis as a partially emerged plant, efficient in uptaking nitrogen, with unlimited atmospheric CO2,
- Salvinia natans as floating plant. I have also a few Lemna minor which never grow much because nitrate levels are always low (about 5 ppm). Lemna minor is a good indicator : if it starts covering the surface, there is something wrong.
- I have also Riccia fluitans. Also a good competitor versus Lemna minor.
- I introduced Egeria densa 3 years ago but it was outcompeted by Bacopa amplexicaulis. I introduced Ceratophyllum demersum last year after clearing part of the Bacopas.

My aquarium is in my garage (north), with seasonal temperature variations : between 8°C in winter and 20°C in summer (extremes : 4°C - 22°C). The tank is open, so water temperature often 2°C below air temperature.
And, of course, I have a light for the plants. Axolotls can hide in the plants or the wooden pieces.

Live food as often as possible because I noticed pellets pollute the water (they probably contain compounds useful tu form the pellet, but not digested by axolotls).

 

[appshan]

Thanks for this info. This is very helpful!

 

[JM29]

I made my technical choices which work well in my conditions.
Seek for other testimonies. You'll sure find other options which also work well.

 

[JM29]

For the sand, I could add one remark :
My young axolotls begin their life in bare bottom tanks. I let them meet sand (<3 mm) when they are at least 2 inches (5 cm).
I noticed several times that some, if not all, need about one week to learn to sort the food out of sand when they eat.